3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Amaryllis Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:04.39 Standard Time: 2:02.35 Course/Class record: 2:00.67 Full Power
Keith Yeung got things underway with a brilliant steer aboard JUBILATION (NZ 5yo g Ghibellines – Cherry Creek) for the Chris So yard. The gelding got away on terms and pressed forward after being caught wide around the first turn with only a moderate tempo on offer. Yeung eventually got across to sit on the outside of the leader with around 1200m left to run and when the mid-race move came, the local hoop was alert to it and kept his rival out wide on the track. Keeping his position along the inside, Yeung still looked to have plenty of horse underneath him turning for home and the five-year-old kicked clear once asked for an effort. He wasn't stopping on the line, and nobody was eating into the margin behind him, with Jubilation going on to win by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. WONDER YEARS was out the back – as usual – from the beginning but Keagan De Melo summed up the situation well heading down the back. Usually a mile off the back, the field were going so slow that Wonder Years was travelling comfortably at the back of the pack. De Melo got moving at the 1200m point and rolled forward to put some pace into the race, leading the field off the back but being kept away from the rail by the eventual winner. He whacked away down the straight but couldn't match the sprint of the winning horse. NICHOLSON RETURNS was always in a good spot under Zac Purton but probably lacked the turn-of-foot needed when they run that slow up front. He was doing his best work over the closing stages as he ran into third spot.
Race 2 – Cedar Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.54 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
The Dennis Yip-trained VANTASTIC CHOICE (AUS 5yo g Choisir – Fantastic Flo Jo) notched up his maiden victory in the second race of the day. The five-year-old got away well under Alex Badel and landed in a beautiful position just off the pace on settling down. As the race went on, the Frenchman found himself in the one-out-one-back position with 600m remaining and looked to keep one of his main rivals in a pocket as they swung into the straight. There was a bit of contact at the top of the straight, but it didn't phase the son of Choisir who burst to the front once he got balanced. They were getting into the margin late in the race, but they weren't coming quick enough as he went on to win by a length on the line. RUBY SAILING was prominent from the outset, pushing forward under Keith Yeung before taking a sit in behind the leader. Yeung then found himself in a bit of a pocket passing the 600m as the field whipped up around him, with the local hoop trying to force his way into the clear at the top of the straight. The eventual winner kept him locked away, with Ruby Sailing forced to go out and around midway down the straight. By the time he got going again the race was all over, but he did chase hard late in the race to finish in second. TOP PEAK also copped a little bit of interference as Ruby Sailing pulled out into the clear in the straight. He kept on well under Jerry Chau to fill the final spot on the podium at a massive starting price of $72. Race favourite Gangnam Star looked to be in a handy position turning for home but was very plain in the run to the line, finishing 3 lengths away in eighth position.
Race 3 – Erica Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 (Restricted) – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:23.20 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
THE ABSOLUTE (NZ 3yo c Satono Aladdin – Gardenier) made amends for his unlucky debut effort by turning over the odds-on pop in the third. Jimmy Ting's charge got away well and was running up front early on, before settling on the back of the leader as they turned off the back. He tracked the leader and race favourite throughout the event, matching his every move and taking onto the back of him as he tried to skip away at the top of the straight. He responded well when Ferraris pulled the whip with the son of Satono Aladdin putting grinding down the leader to put his nose in front with 50m to run and inching away over the final stages to win by three-quarters of-a-length. SUPER LEGENDS was heavily backed right on start time, jumping $1.60 for Zac Purton and Danny Shum. He was caught wide in the early stages and Purton was forced to press on and lead the field as they headed off the back straight. He was able to do as he pleased in front and kicked clear from the rest of the field as they turned for home, but he just couldn't shake The Absolute who was right there to strike. He held on for as long as he could, but the winner was just too strong at the end. The first two cleared out by 5 lengths, with CHATER GOLD holding on for third a whopping 5-3/4 lengths back off the winner.
Race 4 – Hibiscus Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:36.09 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache
Pierre Ng extended his lead in the trainers' title with STARSHIP EIGHTY (AUS 4yo g Into Mischief – Starship Angel) bringing up back-to-back wins. The gelding was away on terms for Karis Teetan but didn't show as much pace as his rivals, landing in a midfield position along the inside. The pace was okay as they reached the halfway point with Teetan in a sticky position off the back straight. The pace ramped up passing the 600m point with the Mauritian sticking to the inside turning for home. The rail opened right up and Teetan didn't have to go around a horse, with the four-year-old scraping the paint to get to the lead with a furlong remaining. He was too strong over the closing stages, pulling away to win very easily in the end, with the final margin being 1-3/4 lengths. ANGELS HUNTER has been on the back of the eventual winner throughout the event, settling a little worse than midfield and along the inside. Instead of following Teetan along the inside though, Matthew Chadwick went wider in the straight tried to make his run down the middle of the track. The horse was hanging in as Chadwick tried to make his move, but once he straightened up, he quickened well to run into second position. DRAGON DELIGHT was in a good spot turning for home and looked to be going backwards inside the final 150m as runners were getting to him. To the horses' credit though, he continued to respond to the urgings of Ellis Wong and held off some close rivals to finish in third.
Race 5 – Holly Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.71 Standard Time: 1:38.80 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
Zac Purton and Danny Shum had missed out earlier in the day, but they made amends in the fifth event as NORDIC STAR (BRZ 5yo g Drosselmeyer – Condoleza) got there in the final stride. Purton had to ride the gelding along right out of the barriers after being a touch slow into stride, but with the aid of an inside barrier the five-year-old was able to slide into a good position on the back of the leader. Once they'd sorted their order out, the leader slammed on the brakes down the back stretch with the field beginning to pack up passing the 600m point. Purton was already niggling at his mount to keep in touch as the leader got away at the top of the straight. The five-year-old took a while to wind up, but he eventually hit top gear under Purton's hard riding, making a late dive at the leader and getting his nose in front where it mattered most. LUCKY BANNER led everywhere but the winning post after being the first into stride from the barriers and taking up the lead heading into the first turn. James McDonald was able to do as he pleased out in front, catching his breath through the middle stages before letting rip at the top of the straight. The gelding kicked strongly and put what looked like a winning margin on the rest of his rivals. He had a wall chasing inside the final 100m though as he began to get tired, with Nordic Star the one to grab him right on the wire. BLISSFUL STAR had been caught three-wide and without cover throughout the event with Antoine Hamelin having to face the breeze. He was under pressure a long way from home but dug deep in the straight to claim third placing, fighting off rivals in a ding-dong battle down the straight.
Race 6 – Ivy Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:23.03 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Zac Purton quickly made it a race-to-race double and made it a winning double for Pierre Ng in the process, as FIGHTING MACHINE (NZ 4yo g War Decree – Udiditagain) ran over the top of his rivals. Purton allowed the gelding to find his feet after getting away on terms but eased back approaching the 1000m point to avoid being caught three-wide in the run. The pace was hot up front, with the Australian hoop finding himself in the back half of the field. The four-year-old looked to have plenty to offer as they swung the bend turning for home with the champion jockey looking to slice his way through the traffic early in the straight. It worked out perfectly as Purton gave the son of War Decree plenty of clear air at the top of the straight, letting rip out near the centre of the course to hit the front with 100m remaining. He was too strong in the run to the line, holding the margin to the line to win by three-quarters of-a-length. PERFETTO was a touch slow away from the barriers and Antoine Hamelin immediately snagged the gelding back to last right after the start. He remained in last position until turning for home, where Hamelin got going and built his momentum as he swung the widest turning into the straight. He made a long run right down the outside and was right alongside the leader when he got to the front, but Perfetto didn't have enough left in the tank to stick his nose in front close to the line. HAPPY FOR ALL got away smartly and crossed down to the rail shortly after the jump, eventually settling in behind the leaders. He enjoyed a cosy run throughout but was very unlucky in the straight as Derek Leung was trapped behind a wall of runners. The local hoop was able to thread through a gap and make a strong charge to the line to grab third, but what could have been if he had gotten out earlier.
Race 7 – The Yan Chai Trophy (Handicap), HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:01.77 Standard Time: 2:01.75 Course/Class record: 1:59.53 Glorious Forever
The feature event of the day was taken out by progressive three-year-old and Derby Contender ENSUED (USA 3yo g Lemon Drop Kid – Alluvial Gold). The gelding was very unlucky last start, but Karis Teetan made sure there were no such issues this time, slotting into a position with cover sitting just off the pace from the wide draw. As they continued down the back, Teetan found himself in the one-out-one-back position with the pace genuine travelling through the middle stages. The Mauritian peeled three-wide turning for home and began to stoke up the three-year-old who responded immediately and took the lead passing the 300m point. There was a couple of rivals coming at him close to the line, with the gelding even copping a bump inside the final 50m, but he proved too good in the end, winning by three-quarters of-a-length. FIVE G PATCH was caught in the middle of that contact and was promoted to second place in the stewards' room. The gelding was only fairly away from his middle draw and Purton settled at the tail of the field aboard the Group 1 performer. Purton rode for luck in the back half of the race, sliding along the rail around the home turn before picking his way through the traffic early in the straight. Things opened up for Five G Patch inside the final furlong and Purton was making a charge at the leader when he was cut off badly with around 50m let to run. He went to the line under a hold, finishing 1-1/2 lengths off the winner but was promoted to second position due to the contact late in the race. WOODFIRE BRO was the one who caused the interference. The gelding had raced to the inside of the eventual winner in running and ducked up the inside rail to make his challenge for victory. Despite Keith Yeung's best efforts, the gelding hung out away from the rail and made heavy contact with Five G Patch. Although he crossed the line in second position, beaten three-quarters of-a-length, he would officially finish in third.
Race 8 – Pine Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.98 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
The progressive JOYFUL HUNTER (NZ 4yo g Darci Brahma – Giant Hunter) scored his third win from 6 starts as Vincent Ho guided him to victory. From the wide draw, Ho dragged the gelding back to the tail of the field, being last as they turned off the back and a whopping 9-3/4 lengths off the leader. They were running along up front, and things didn't look much better for the son of Darci Brahma as he was still last and 7-1/2 lengths off the leader at the top of the straight. He just kept coming under the riding of Ho, splitting the gap with 100m to run and blowing right by his opponents to win by a neck on the line in a terrific effort. ARMOUR WAR EAGLE drifted back from the draw after being away on terms, with Keith Yeung settling in the back half of the field. He got a nice trail into the race with the good speed on offer and swung the widest on straightening, ending up out near the middle of the track. He was running on well right down the outside but just found one better close to the line with the winner bursting out of nowhere in the concluding stages. SWIFT ASCEND was midfield in the run and had the drop on the leaders as they turned for home, coming wider and making a strong run in the straight. He was good to the line, but there were just a couple others stronger on the day.
Race 9 – Spruce Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – All Weather – Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:38.61 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
James McDonald was narrowly beaten in the earlier All Weather event but went one better in the ninth race as ADEFILL (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Dijonnaise) returned to the winners' stall. Adefill was a touch slow into stride and with a wall of horses rushing forward heading into the first turn, McDonald was happy to it a little worse than midfield. The Kiwi hoop was hemmed up along the inside as they worked down the back straight, but the pace was strong in front, and the gelding was travelling very strongly passing the 600m point. McDonald began to weave his way through traffic and got to the outside at the top of the straight to give the five-year-old plenty of time and space to get into his work. He let rip when McDonald pushed the button, coming down the outside to stick his nose in front inside the final 100m to win by a neck on the line. FRANTANCK was caught a little wide heading into the first turn but settled into a beautiful position down the back, landing in behind the leaders as they sorted their order out. The leaders began to feel the pinch heading into the straight, prompting Teetan to peel wide and get moving as they turned for home. Frantanck took the lead with a furlong to run and took plenty of running down when Adefill loomed up, but he was unable to hold off the winner who had plenty of momentum right down the outside. PERFECT TEAM settled near the tail of the field and tracked the eventual winner into the race around the home turn. Ellis Wong stuck to the inside turning for home though and rode for luck in the straight, which worked out perfectly with the rail wide open for him to run along. Wong barely went around a rival in the straight, scraping the paint to run into third position.
Race 10 – Poinsettia Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.63 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
There was an upset in the final race as LESLIE (AUS 5yo g Shooting To Win – We Can Dance) powered home to win at a massive $56 starting price. Derek Leung eased back from the wide draw on jumping to land near the tail of the field on settling down, settling along the rail. The Michael Chang-trained galloper found himself in a sticky position with 600m to run as the field packed up, forcing Leung to try and pick through the gaps as they swung for home. Leslie was still under a strong hold with 300m to run as Leung was looking for a way clear, but when the gap appeared the five-year-old was like a shot out of a cannon. The local hoop pressed the button and the gelding exploded, slicing through a narrow opening to hit the front with 50m to run and burst clear to win impressively by 1-1/4 lengths at massive odds. BEAUTY CRESCENT was a little worse than midfield in the run and felt the effects of the mid-race drop in tempo, being strung up along the inside with James McDonald forced to ride for luck. He too had a difficult time trying to find an opening but quickened well once a gap finally appeared. He finished off strongly, but Leslie had already burst to the front by this time, and he was unable to peg back that margin. THE HEIR jumped the $3.70 favourite and was in the back half of the field turning for home with Vincent Ho getting out and into the clear as they entered the straight. He kept grinding away down the outside, but was no match for the winner or second horse who burst through gaps late in the race.
